Polynomials

Parabolas

Degree of a Monomial
What is the degree of the
4 2
monomial?

5x b

The degree of a monomial is the sum of the

exponents of the variables in the monomial.

The exponents of each variable are 4 and 2.

4+2 = 6.

The degree of the monomial is 6.

The monomial can be referred to as a sixth
degree monomial.

Polynomials in One Variable

A polynomial is a monomial or the sum of

monomials

4x

3x 8
3

5 x 2 x 14
2

Each monomial in a polynomial is a term of the

polynomial.

The number factor of a term is called the

coefficient.

The coefficient of the first term in a

polynomial is the lead coefficient.

A polynomial with two terms is called a

binomial.

Polynomials in One Variable

The degree of a polynomial in one variable is
the largest exponent of that variable.

A constant has no variable. It is a 0 degree polynomial.

This is a 1
4 x 1 linear.

st

5 x 2 x 14
2

3x 8
3

degree polynomial. 1st degree polynomials are

This is a 2nd degree polynomial. 2nd degree
polynomials are quadratic.

This is a 3rd degree polynomial. 3rd degree

polynomials are cubic.

Standard Form

To rewrite a polynomial in standard form,

rearrange the terms of the polynomial starting
with the largest degree term and ending with
the lowest degree term.
The leading coefficient, the coefficient of
the first term in a polynomial written in
standard form, should be positive.

Intro to

PARABOLAS

A parabola is formed by the

intersection of a plane with a
cone when the cone intersects
parallel to the slant height of
the cone.

On a cartesian plane, the set

of points that describe a
parabola is defined using a
point called the FOCUS and a
line called the DIRECTRIX.

The distance from the

focus to the vertex or
from the directrix to
the vertex is a. This
value plays a role in
The distance of a given point
defining the equation of
on the parabola from the focus the parabola.
is equal to the distance of that
FOCUS
same point to the directrix.
When that point is the vertex
(the tip of the parabola) that
distance has a special
significance. It defines an
important parameter for the
parabola known as a.
DIRECTRIX

Parabolas are the shapes that define projectile

motion (the path that a ball takes when it is hit
or thrown into the air).
Ball

Parabolas show up in the architecture of

bridges.

The parabolic shape is used when constructing

mirrors for huge telescopes, satellite dishes and
highly sensitive listening devices.

focus

If this parabola is a satellite dish or a

telescopic mirror, the receiver is
located at the focus. Parallel rays
strike the parabola and all reflect to
the focus

If it is the reflective surface of a lamp, then the

light-bulb is located at the focus of the mirror
and the arrows point in the other direction.

Suspension Bridges
The parabolic shape of the cables
along suspension bridges help carry
the forces acting on the bridge to the
top of the towers (which can usually
stand flexing, buckling, and
oscillation)

Trajectories
Everything on the planet Earth is subject to
gravity. When on object is thrown or forced in
a direction not on the ground, eventually
gravity grabs it and drags it down. The path
the object follows it that of a Parabola.

Path of a Projectile
Galileo found that all objects thrown form a parabolic
path, no matter what. He deduced this by the simple
observation of watching objects being thrown. Galileo
is responsible for the modern concepts of velocity and
acceleration to explain projectile motion that is studied
today:
A projectile which is carried by a uniform horizontal
motion compounded with a naturally accelerated
vertical motion describes a path which is a semiparabola.

Heaters
Heaters are sold which make use of the
relection property of the parabola. The
heat source is at the focus and heat is
concentrated in parallel rays.

Parabolic Flight

PARABOLIC SKIS
The newest and most popular type of skis have
parabolic cuts on both sides, shortening the
the turning area and making it much easier to
turn the skis.
The parabolic design will deform under load to
a perfect arc resulting in a smooth turn. The
result is that the ski only has to be tipped on
edge to turn flawlessly with a minimum of
skier exertion.

K
N
A
H

O
Y

By:
Adhish
Anun
Avni
Kangana
Poojita

10th
A